5 players to watch as Masters begins

By Pete Dougherty

Published 8:14 pm, Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Photo: Andrew Redington

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AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 09: Arnold Palmer walks off a green during the 2014 Par 3 Contest prior to the start of the 2014 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2014 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 461742817 less

AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 09: Arnold Palmer walks off a green during the 2014 Par 3 Contest prior to the start of the 2014 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2014 in Augusta, Georgia. ... more

Photo: Andrew Redington

5 players to watch as Masters begins

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Augusta, Ga.

One writer's opinion on the five golfers with the best chance to win this week's Masters:

Phil Mickelson: Among the four players in the field who have won more than once — Bernhard Langer, Ben Crenshaw and Tom Watson are the others — only Mickelson, 43, is young enough to add to the total. He has a new-found confidence in majors since winning last year's British Open.

Adam Scott: There hasn't been a back-to-back winner since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002, and he isn't in the field. Scott, 33, the defending champion, has the demeanor and the game to make it happen.

Rory McIlroy: A two-time major winner and only 24, McIlroy has the length and skill to succeed at Augusta National. He needs to prove he can do it on Sunday.

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Henrik Stenson: He is No. 3 in the world and could become No. 1 with a second-place finish. One of these days a high-ranked European will live up to his ranking at the Masters.

Ryan Moore: You've got to try one longshot. No winner of the Par 3 Contest — which Moore captured Wednesday — has ever won the Masters the same year. Why not this year?